Nut-tapping machine



P` N. SPIIRK AND R. STRAMITZ.

' NUT TAPPING MACHINE.

u APPLICATION FILED DEC1I5,I9I9. 1,41 6,1315. v Patented May 16, 1922.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

P. N. SPURK A111011. Smm/|112.

NUT TAPPING MACHINE.

APPLICATloN FILED DEC, 15; 1919.

rammed May16,1922;

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

P. N. SPURK AND R. STRANIITZ.

NU'I TAPP|NG MACHINE. I APPLICATLON FILED DEC. 15| 1919. 1 ,416,135. Patented May 16, 1922.

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FTNT OFFICE.

NUT-TAKPPING: MACHINE.

` Laia-ies,

T 0 @ZZ '1c/wm t may concer/r:

Be it known that we` Pn'rnu N. SPURK,

a citizen of the United lStates of America,

chines and more particularly automatic machines for tapping nut blanks. f

The object of the invention is to provide a machine which will feed and tap nut blanks and discharge the nislied nuts automatically and continuously, and further will perform the tapping operation and the release 01"' the nuts without reversal of motion, change of speed or attention by the operator.

lt is also an object ci the invention to provide certain other new and useful features in the construction, arrangement. and combination of partsall as hereinafter more fully described.

'W ith the above and other ends in view, the invention consists in the matters hereinafter set forth and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a substantially central longitudinal vertical section through a' machine embodying the invention; i

F Q a plan view olf the same with parts breken away and in section;

Fig- 2l is an enlarged section substantially upon the line lll-lll of llig. 1;

AFia'. sectional detail substantially uponV the line ll IV of F ig. 3;

Fig. 5 a sectional detail substantially upon the line V-V of F ig. l;

AFig. sectional detail showing a modified eoiistruction means;

Fig. i" is a section oli Fig. 6 on the line lili-VH thereof;

Fin: is an enlarged sectional. detail on the line vill-VH1 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 9 is a sectional detail substantiallyv upon the line XHX oiE Fig. 8;

l? 10 is a detail view ot the nut delivery mechanism in plan view; and

Fig. 11 is a diagrammatic or developed View el a master cam drum.

Specification of Letters Patent.

ot gripging and releasing 7 Patented i May `16, 1922.

Application filed December 15, 1919. Serial No, 344,885.

ln thedrawings, 1 indicates a suitable supporting frame which is formed at its forward end with a suitable bracketQ providing a bearing 3 for a central hollow supporting member 4 on a table 5 which rests upon the bracket and provides a smooth upper surface forming a support for a rotatable nut blank carrier or hopper indicated as a whole at 6. This carrier com prises heads 7 and 8 which are fixed to a shaft 9 extending through the hollow member 4 of the table and rotatable therein. Secured to the peripheries of the heads 7 and Sis a series of vertical chutes 10 `formed to receive nut blanks at their upper ends and hold a series of nuts in superposed` relation in each chute, the chutes being shaped y to hold the nut blanks in proper angular relation to each other. i

At one side the table is formed ywith a radial slot to receive a feed slide 11 and secured to the table within the slide is a block 12 so positioned tha-t when the lower end of one of the chutes 10 is brought to position over the block by the turningof the carrier, that anut blank will drop from the chute upon the block within the slide 11. A pusher' bar 13 extends across the slide 11 at the upper edge thereof in position to engage tace of the nut blank and, when the slide is moved rearwardly, will push the blank `from the block, at' the same time passing beneath the column of nut blanks in the chute and support said column. Upon the side walls of the slide 11 at the lower edges of said walls and at each side of the block 12 are ribs 14 which will catch and support the'nut blank .wit-hin the slide when the blank is pushed from the block 12 by the rearward sliding movement of the slide. y

Upon return or forward movement of they carried forwardly with the slide, by engagement of the blank with the block 12 and it is thus tilted .and turned to a position where it will fall down a chute 15 provided therefor beneath the slide 11. The blanks are'thusied, one at a time, and dropped into the chute 15 where they fall to the bottom thereoiS andare held therein in position to be engagedby a tap 16. The rear wall` 17 of the chute -15 is formed integral with the slide 11 and the front wall of this chute is in the form of a platey 181 which is secured by screws 19 (Fig. 4t) to the sides of a carrier-head 20 which has an upwardly f extending arm 2l at ite rear end to receive of the elotwitli one corner of the blank` resting' upon a longitudinal rib S26 formed upon a detachable bottom plate 2? eeeured tothe bottom ot the block 2l over the bottom of toe slot, as clearlyv shown in 3. The Carrying member Q() is thuis supported by the forward end of the tubular shaft :22 which is free to slide longitudinalllg' in its bearing and this carrying member 2() is guided in its reciprocating movement Within suitalgsle guide ways 2S Jornied on the bracket 2 at the lower edge thereof. The front plate 18 of the chute l5 being` attached to the carrier 2O and being` in engagement with said Walle of said chutey upon reciprocating movement ot the member 20, the chute l5 and slide ll will be reciproeated thereby to feed the nut blanks into the upper end of the chute.

The face ot the table 5 is supported in a 'horizontal plane and the slide ll. reviproeates in a like plane but the tubular shaft 22 extends in a plane at an angle to the horizonta and `carries the member 2O in a plane parallel therewith, the chute l5 extending' un -Wardly at right angles to the inclined plane of the Carryingv member Q() and longitudinal plane of the axis ot the shatt 22. The slide ll and the carrying head or member 2li are thus reeiprocated in planes which are iu angular relation to each othe and therefore to permit oi" suc-h angular movement. the rear portion oi? the chute l5 carried ljY and 'forms an integral part ot the slide l While the plate 18 is carried by the head 'and is tree to move relativelyY to the other part of the chute.

The tap 1G is formed integral with i @hatt or rod 29 and this rod is held in a Y hereinafter described against lengiti linal lmovement and hae a rotary motion imparted thereto. The tap is supported within the channel 25 of the block 24rin a position to engage the bore ot each nut blank as it drops to the lower end ot the Chute l5 in position -upon the supporting' rib 26? and upon rearternal thread on the blank, the blank beingmoved forwardly7 by the tap and guided in the channel 25 until itpasses from the lower und of the tap -onto the rod 29 which is integral with the tap. rl'he tap rod 29 e\:- tende rearwardigY into the forward open end ot a tubular Shatt ot), which ie mounted iu Suitable hearinge upon the aine l in a forwardly and downwardliY inclined posaition and this rod is supported with its anim ooinrident with the axis of the Shaft by meaue` ot eai'upingi jaws arranged in paire, these jaws ll and 32 eoiietitutine` each -pair being' pivotalljy7 mounted as at El?) within diametricall)7 opposed slots 3ft in the tubular @hatl 30. The jaw ''l is provided with a head .i5 having a if-Shaped gri/'ove extending lo hitudinallv thereof to engage one Side ot the rod and the other jaw 32 ie provided with a head 3G having' a plain tace to engage the opposite eide ol" Ythe rod, The two pairsy of jaws are spaced apart longitudinall'y of the rod and surroundinl;v each pair of jaws a damping ring having a tapered internal bore to err ige the tapered outeredges 38 ol: the two i we ot each pair.

AS Shown in Fig. l, the clamping' 37 are moved 'toiwvardlgT to bring,v their intei-nal tapered faces into Contact with 'the tapered edges of the jaive and force said jaws to turn inivaiclliv about their pivotey and Clamp the rod firmly between them. rlho clamping' rings 87 are so moved bv means` ot suitable yokee engaging' peripheral grooves ll() in the ringe and these jroles are Carried by heade ell which are treo to Slide lonpghrulinalljv upon a supporting' rod or Shaft l2 which iS mounted at its Vtoiwvard end in a bearing in the iframe and at ite rear end Within Suitable lr earingel provided there for within the tubular ehal't 22. before statedLQ the Shait 92 is tree to more longitudinallj.,v in its bearingr on the Ytrarne and to reeiwthin longitudinal movement in one direct-ion. a coiled Spring` il?) is Sleeved upon the rod 4t2 within thisA tubular ehal't 2Q between a collar l--ll on one end ot the shui't lil and a suitable plug; or 'loeure l5 serein threaded into the Yforward end oi" the tubular shaft, irrollar lo ia secured upon tho ortransverse openinf." lo rereive a rod 4 cured to the frame, Upon longituflna movement oi the shaft collar freelv therewith noon the rod i7 and rod prevente rotation ot the t-ubn r sha'-L 22, This eolla r -lG also carries a roller adapted to engage a cam tace upon the end oil a master drum 50 which ie mounted upon Shaft 5l in bearinfre on the 'traine l. to turn with the Shaft.

The heade fil oi" the 'rohen 39 are also provided with rollers 5'2 to engage ram ribs and 5iupon the nuri'aee ol" the drum 50. The cam rib has an oppoesed cam rib portion 55 cooperating' therewith ae will be hereinafter more fullv described. and the earn rib 54 has a rib 56 cooperating' therewith.

lil() l. l G

rlhe tubular shaft 30 is positively driven by means of a pulley 57 secured thereto out-y 60 mounted. upon the shaft 30 and upon kthe forward end of the drum shaft 5l.

llithin this casing 60 upon the shaft 5l is secured a worm gear 6l in engagement with a. worm 62 upon the shaft 59. The bevel gears, shaft 59, worin 62 and worm gear 61 are thus enclosed within a suitable casing which provides bearings for these parts and is supported upon the projecting ends of the shafts 30 and 5l. fromthe shaft 30 to the shalt 5l through the medium of the lbevel gears 58, sha'tt 59 land its worm gear connection withthe shaft 5l. rlhe master cam drum 50 being secured to the shaft 5l is therefore rotated in timed relation to the rotation of the tubularA shaft 30 and tap rod 29. l

To impart an intermittent rotation to the hopper' 6, a ratchet wheel 63 is securedto the lower end of the hopper shaft 9v andA mounted upon the lower end of this shaft to rotate freely thereon, is an'arm 64 (see F ig.

2) carrying a .dog 65 to Aengage the ratchet 63. This dog is held in engagement with the ratchet by means of a suitable spring 66 andthe arm 64 is given a reciprocating movement or partial rotation in each direction by means of a connecting rod 6T attached tothe outer end thereof at one end and at its oppositeend to a rocker bar 68 pivotally supported intermediate its ends upon a suitable bracket 69` carried by ythe trame. To the upper end of the rocker bar 68 is pivotallv attached a plunger 70 mounted within a tubular bearing 71 on the bracket 69 to slide 'freelyy in a longitudinal direction therein, A. spring ,72 is sleeved upon the plunger within the tubular bearing Ibetween any enlargedy end on the sleeve and bearing plug 73 screwed into the rear end ofthe tubular bearing. The plunger v7() is thus A .oved in one direction by the spring 72 and to nieve the plunger in the opposite lireetion, a roller 74; is provided en the forward end of the plunger to engage a cam ri '75 -on the drum 50, i

The hopper 6 is thusfgi'ven an intermittent step by step rotation to bring its several chutes l0 vholding` nut blanks, into position over the feed slide 11, and this step by stepv movement is performed in timed. relation to the movements of the several other oper?.

ating devices of the machine, by the rotation oi" the master cam drum 50 which also controls the movements of the slide l1 Jfor feeding thefnutblanks, one at a time, into the upper end of the chiite l5 so thattliey will Motion is transmitted fall into position iii front'ot the tap 16 at the proper time through the instrumentality ot the cam tace at the end i9 on the master cam drum 50, the roller Son the tubular shaft 22 passing into a cut-away portion of the cam surface 49 at the proper time relative to the movements of the plunger TO lior operating the hopper 6 and also relative yto the opening andelosing movements of the pairs of clamping jaws 35 and 36 causedfby the cam 'ribs 53 and il which are also on the drum. l

,il nut blank having been ted into the chute 15 and having dropped to the bottoni thereotinto position in front of the tap 16, is held ragainst rotation by the channel 25 olf-'the block 24 Within which it lits with its lower angle resting upon the ribA 26 on the 35 and 36. Thetap being in rotation outs the thread in the nut blank and at the same time moves the blank 'forwardly along the tap within the channel 25.y Continued rotation of the tap feeds the nut onto the tap rod 29 where itis free to slide downwardly thereon in engagement 'with the first pair of clamping jaws, rlhe portion 55 of the cam rib on the drum 50 then comes into engagement with the roller 52and acts to move the yoke 39 longitudinally of its supporting shaft tlthus moving the clamping` ring 37 and releasing the first pair ot clamping jaws, which aws are each provided with an outwardly extending tail portion 7 6 adapted to be engaged by the ring, and cause the jaws to be tilted upon their pivots and thus opened outwardlya su'llicient distance to permit thev nut on the shaft' 29 to slidek downwardly thereon past thesejaws. The nut thus rej leased by the vlirst pair et jaws slides down Athe rod into engagement with the second,

pair ofl jaws, whenfthe cani'rib 53 operates to move the yoke 39 and eause'the Jair of'jaws te be closed into clamping nient with the tap rod 29. il rter the vet Lpair of jaws has bve-en thus el porti-on -56 of the cam lrib on the druniO* eoniesint@ engagement with the roller o2 of the volte for operating the second pair of clampingl jaws, and in a like manner these iaws are automatically opened, permitting the 'rod 29 and from the end thereot1 into the tubular shaft 30, fromthe' open lower end oic lwhich shaft it willl be discharged. The opening and closing movements ofthe pairs a nut just passing from the tap as a'blank the nut. blank to pass rbetween them down y laov comes into position tor tapping and a third nut is midway ot the tap within the guide is always guided and supported by being in engagement with a nut thereon within the guide channel 25 ot the block 24. The

lchannel 25 is preferably formed wit-hin the detachable block 24 so that this block may be removed and another having a channel ot a different width substituted therefor tor nut blanks ot a larger or smaller diy ameter. The carrying head 2O is also provided with an open oil pocket 77 in the upper side thereof and from said pocket channels 78 and 79 lead to the channel-25 and into the lower end-ot the chute 15 to provide a supply of oil to the tap.

In Figs. 6 and 7 a modified construction of the clamping device for the tap rod 29 is shown. ln this construction the two pairs of clamping jaws are operated by a single sleeve member 8O which is moved longitudinally of the tubular shaft 30 by means of a single operating ring 81 which is provided with a roller 82 for engaging a suitable` cam rib or ribs upon the drum 50. The jaws 88 and 84 comprising each pair are pivotally supported adjacent one end within the slots 34 in the shaft 30 vand these aws are formed with outwardly e3'- tending tail portions 85 to be engaged by suitable cam blocks 86 carried by the ring member 8O internally thereoic and in a position to engage and slide upon the outer edges of the jaws. These cam blocks 86 are held within recesses 87 in rings 88 screwthreaded upon the ends ot the sleeve 8O so that by turningthe holding rings 88 relative to the ring 80, these blocks 86 may be adjusted.

As shown in Fig. 6, when the parts are in the position indicated, the first pair of clamping dogs is in clamping position 'for holding the tap rod and the other pair is held in open position to allow the finished nut to pass down the rod between the j aws. by the engagement of the blocks 86 with the tail portions 85 of this pair ol the-jaws. A short longitudinal movement of the sleeve 8O will close the second pair of jaws and in that position both pairs of jaws will be held in clamping position upon the rod by the engagement of the blocks 86 with the outer straight edges of the dogs of both pairs. A further longitudinal movement to the right-will hold the two pair of dogs closed until the blocks 86 come into enare therei'ore alternately opened and closed f and at no time is the rod released by all ot the jaws.

In this construction nut blanks are automatically ted to the tapping mechanism one at a time and are tapped. and pass out of the machine automatically with a continuous uninterrupted operation without the necessity tor reversing the rotation of the tap in order to release the finished nuts and without attention on the part of the operator. This construction does not necessitate a change ot speed in order that the nut may be tapped and then unscrewed from the tap to release it but provides a construction in which the nut passes onto one end of the tap and is discharged from the other end thereof with a continuous .even movement.

The machine is entirely automatic in its operation, it only being necessary to keep a supply ot' nut blanks within the chutes l() oit the hopper, there being a large number of these chutes from which the nut blanks are discharged, one at a time7 so that an unskilled workman maykeep a suiicient supply ot blanks in the hopper to provide for the continuous operation ot the machine.

Obviously, changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of parts withinthe scope of the appended claims without departing trom the spirit of the inven tion7 and we do not therefore limit ourselves to the particular form, arrangement or construction shownv Having thus fully described our invention, what we claim is l. ln a machine ot the character described, the combination of a movable head having achannel to receive and guide nut blanks,

-means 'for feeding nut blanks to said channel. a tap supported within said channel to engage the nut blanks, a rod forming a continuation of the tap, means for rigidly supporting and continuously rotating said rod including gripping members for gripping the rod, means for alternately operating the lio gripping members to cause first one and then the other to grip and then release the rod, and means for reciprocating the head in timed relation to the alternate operation of the gripping members to bring theI nut blank into engagement with the tap.

2. In a machine of the character described.

the combination of a reciprocable slide forr feeding nut blanks, a rotatable carrier havingI a series of holders adapted to be brought one at a time into alignment with said slide to feed nut blanks thereto, a reciprocable head movable with the slide andprovided with a channel to receive and guide the nut blanks, a chute carried by said head to receive nut blanks from said slide and deliver the same to said channel, a tap rotatably supported and non-reciprocable in the channel to engage and tap the nut blanks, means for rotating the tap including gripping members, means for reciprocating the slide and head, and means for automatically operating the gripping members in timed relation to the recipiocation of the slide and head.

3. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a horizontally disposed table, a hopper for nut blanks supported by the table, a reciprocable feed slide for feeding nut blanks one at a time from the h opper, a reciprocable head supported at an inclination to the horizontal plane of the table and slide and provided with a channel to receive and hold nut blanks, a chute connecting the slide and head to deliver nut blanks to the channel of the head, a tap supported within the channel Vto engage and tap the nut blanks, a rod to form a continuation of the tap, a tubular shaft in longitudinal alignment with the tap and into whiehthe rod extends, gripping members arranged in a pairs and pivotally attached to the tubular shaft to engage and grip the rod, means for operating each pair of gripping members in timed relation to the other pair, and means for reciprocating the slide and head in timed relation to the operation of the means for operating the gripping members.

e. ln a machine of the character described, the combination of a reciprocable head adapted to receive and hold nut blanks, a tap supported in said channel to engage the nut blanks, a chute carried by the head and opening at its lower end into one end of the channel, a slide movable with the upper end of the chute, a table having a slot within which the slide is adapted to reciprocate nut blank feeding means comprising a rotatable carrier having a series of nut blank holding members adapted to be brought into position over the chute successively by the rotation of said carrier, means on the slide for engaging a nut blank and moving the same from beneath the carrier into the upper end of the chute, and means for reciprocating the head and slide and turning the nut carrier in timed relation to each other.

5. In a machine of the character described, means for feeding nut blanks'comprising a table having a slot, a rotatable carrier having a series of vertically extending tubular members to receive and hold nut blanks in superposed position, said tubular holders being arranged to be brought, one at a time, withits lower end above the slot in the table,

by the rotation of the carrier, a slide in the slot, means carried by the slide for pushing p nut blanks, one at a time, from beneath a holder of the carrier, and means for rotating the carrier and reciprocating theslide in timed relation to each other. l

ln a machine of the character described,

the combination of a reciprocable head formed with a nut receiving and guiding channel having walls to engage' the faces of a nut blank and prevent rotation of the blank by passing longitudinally of the channel, a chute carried by the head and opening at its lower end into one end of the channel to feed nut blanks into the channel, a tap extending longitudinally in the channel of the head, said tap being rotatable and nonreciprocable, means for feeding nut blanks into the upper end of the chute, one at a time, means for rotating the tap including gripping members, and means for operating said gripping members, and means for operating the gripping members and reciprocating the head in timed relation, said head being also arranged to control the feeding of the nut blanks to the chute by the reciprocation ofthe head.

7. ln a machine of the character described, the combination of a tubular shaft inclined in the direction of its length, means for rotating said shaft, a head reciprocable in a direction longitudinally of the shaft and having a nut receiving and holding channel arranged in longitudinal axial alignment -with the shaft, an tap extending longitudinally of said channel, a rod forming an extension of said tap andsupport therefor, said rod extending longitudinally into the open forward end of the tubular1 shaft, gripping members carried by the shaft to grip and hold the rod, means for operating each of the gripping members, a rotatable member having cam ribs to operate said opera-ting means for the gripping members in timed relation to each other, a cam surface on said rotatable camniember for reciprocating the head in timed relation to the operation of the gripping members, nut blank feeding mechanism, means for operating said feeding mechanism in timed relation to the re- 

